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“Shh,” Ann hushed. Patrice’s eyebrows furrowed and she stood up to peer through the window. Eric approached the front door, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
“But you didn’t hear any of that from us,” Patrice said, swatting the comment away and continued rocking in her chair casually, sipping her tea.
“The door’s open!” Ann crooned and gave me a wink. “Looks like your knight in shining armor’s come to save you from us old croons.”
Before I could object, his hulking form filled the room. His gaze raked down the dress and back to me. “What are you doing here?” I asked breathlessly. Guilt and anguish rolled over me. I hadn’t dealt with any of the things that he had in his life, so I could only empathize. And that just made it so much worse. Guilt also niggled at me for knowing some of his deepest hurts, and yet I couldn’t share a wisp of mine. Not that he probably cared to hear them.
“Yes, what are you doing here, Eric? You never visit,” Ann said, already packing up her equipment.
“I’ve come to pick up Cassidy.”
“Do you have work for me?” I asked.
Eric looked sheepish as he glanced at our onlookers, who were hinged on his every word with curiosity. A tension filled the room, their looming romantic expectations obvious.
“Something like that.”
I looked at Ann and she waved me off. “Go, go. Now that you’re staying in town for a few weeks, I can have you anytime I want. As long as Eric’s willing to share.” Ann raised an incredulous eyebrow in Eric’s direction. Patrice, ever quiet sipped, on her tea, her gaze drifting up occasionally to watch the tension throughout the room run its course.
Chapter 19
Cassidy
After dropping piles of wood off to the locals, we made our way back home to the cabin. The snow had begun to slowly melt away the frostbitten blanket of white, revealing a few streaks of green beneath. Apparently, it’d been unusual to receive this much snow at this time of year. But part of me secretly enjoyed the days. In Manhattan it might’ve hindered my social life but here I could appreciate its beauty.
It was so different to most vacations or places I’d been. My schedule was always busy with social events and for the first time in a long time, I kind of had nothing to do. I still had so much to figure out but I didn’t feel as stressed about my whereabouts or how I might step forward. I just had to believe it was going to work out, and by the time I had to move on, I’d have my pay check and could take it from there.
I stared at my cell. Eric had installed the new sim card, and so I’d messaged Clover and Issobelle to tell them I was safe in my travels and asked if anything exciting was happening in Manhattan since I’d left.
I realized then there was no one else I particularly wanted to reach out to. I was surrounded by so many people in Manhattan, and yet I genuinely thought the only two who cared about my whereabouts and safety were those two.
I also sent Alice a short and cryptic message. May be longer. Got stuck on the way but having fun. It’s such a vibe! The reality was I didn’t trust her not to inform my parents or Frederick about my whereabouts.
A light tension filled the truck. It wasn’t unusual for Eric and me to sit in comfortable silence. In fact, it was one of Eric’s favorite pastimes, but right now I’d actively avoided conversation, too scared he’d see straight through me and the discussion I’d had with Ann and Patrice. Eric had been right, the folk here loved to gossip and now that I had all of this information about his deepest darkest downfalls, I wasn’t sure what to do with it—if anything at all. I couldn’t mention it if he hadn’t told me himself, right?
And besides, what could I do to help? Wouldn’t he hate my pity? Spite my curiosity? And yet all I wanted to do was give the big tower of a man a hug. I’m sure someone had been there to support him through it all, but I wanted to convey my apologies and tell him that situation was never okay.
“You’re awfully quiet today.” His voice was like an electric shock slicing through the air and straight into the pit of my stomach.
“Am I?” I squeaked. He side-eyed me.
“I have a question for you, and I want you to answer me honestly or as much as you can.”
That statement alone had my heart racing. Crap. Did he know about the conversation I’d had with those gossipers. But how? Then again, Eric seemed like the type of man to find out everything.
“A man dropped by today in the café looking for you.”
I stopped wringing my fingers together. This wasn’t about Eric? And a man looking for me? Shock and a cold chill ran through me. What if it was him? My breath hitched, mortified at what Eric might say next. But instead, he sat in silence. It was far more effective and revealing than I’d like to admit. It made me uncomfortable as he waited for an answer. His one simple statement suddenly felt like an interrogation.
“That’s a statement not a question,” I deflected. He gave me one of his grumpy effective side glances.
“Is there any particular reason why he might be looking for you that I need to know? Will it affect the town?”
Ah. The town. Of course. After losing everything before, wouldn’t the town always be his priority? I was still an outsider, after all. I swallowed the hard lump in my throat, trying to act nonchalant, but I wasn’t fooling anyone. It unnerved me because I knew his answer before he’d even given it.
“What was his name?” My voice was small, and I began running my finger down the door handle trying to act blasé as I stared out the window. Please don’t be him. Please don’t be him. Please don’t be him.
“Frederick Taylor.”
